Adult Education in the Bitterroot Valley is proceeding at most valley schools while they are addressing safety concerns to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Florence Adult Ed Coordinator Alli Bristow said she knew there would be challenges this year in putting the program together while addressing safety concerns for instructors and adults using the school building after hours.
“Our superintendent has been very helpful with communicating and researching the guidelines to support this program running this year,” Bristow said. “We offer both in-person and Zoom options depending on the class. We are limiting the number of in-person registrations due to social distancing and the space allowed for the class.”
Other stipulations for safety include classes only open to Florence residents, limited class sizes, masks required in the building and only removed for exercising with social distancing, and having open doors and fans. Instructors make sure people wear masks and sanitize all spaces used after classes using the school provided cleaning supplies.
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Bristow said she knows the social isolation piece of COVID can have negative effects on mental health and wellness.
“Providing our community with a format for adult connection can help alleviate some of those feelings of loneliness,” she said.
This winter, Florence Adult Education is only offering a few classes with Florence teachers providing opportunities for education for simple Spanish (taught by Zoom), "Ideas and Expressions in Music" (in-person after the holidays), and two fitness classes, Oula and Oula One (in-person, spread apart).
Bristow said the fitness classes are popular right now as people want to exercise together.
“There is research that supports the mood-boosting effects not only of dance but synchronized group dance,” she said. “Participants report feeling happy and connected even days afterward. Adults can meet new people, learn a new skill, dance, share, laugh and connect through experience.”
Bristow would like more instructors to contact her about ideas for other classes on a variety of topics. For more information about becoming an instructor or registering for classes go to https://www.florence.k12.mt.us/domain/11, email Alli Bristow at bristowa@florence.k12.mt.us or call Florence Carlton School District 406-273-0587 ex 3300. The school is located at 5602 Old U.S. Highway 93, Florence.
Corvallis School District’s Heart of the Valley Adult Education Director Kristina Berger said planning is still in progress for online classes as the school is still not open to visitors at this time.
“We are learning how to best provide online content and videos to meet the needs of our community,” Berger said. “The classes will come with live support and we are still putting together non-perishable kits to make it easy for folks to participate at discounted costs.”
She is busy recording video for online workshops, especially for the holiday cookie decorating class.
“The holiday cookie kit will allow you to let your creativity fly,” she said. “[Cookie decorating] kits include a step by step video, inspiration images, recipes, cookie cutters and more. We will be adding additional classes as we get our feet under us with the transition to online and distance learning classes.”
They offer on-demand webinar classes where material is put together for students to work through on their own pace with instructor support.
The cookie class will be on-demand, meaning anytime access.
“Engaging our community, even through a pandemic, I think is vital to the health of our Adult Ed program while simultaneously providing a much needed service back to the community,” said Jon Konen, superintendent. “We are looking for new ways to engage adults. Kristina Berger, Adult Ed coordinator, is one of the most innovative educators I know and she is working on taking our Adult Ed program…virtual!”
Currently there is a free online class called Corvallis School District Substitute Teacher Training that is always available and self-paced.
Berger also has classes lined up for January and February, for details as they become available see www.heartofthevalleyadulted.org or email adulted@corvallis.k12.mt.us.
The Hamilton School District Adult Ed program is run through Bitterroot College. Coordinator Lea Gutherie said a catalog of classes will hit mailboxes in early January with classes beginning mid to late January.
“We will be running classes in person with precautions in place and some will be offered virtually, like RCEDA’s business classes,” Gutherie said.
John Schneeberger, economic development specialist for the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA), offers great classes and has another partnership.
Hamilton residents receive a discount on some classes and those are free to Hamilton School District employees and seniors age 65 and older. There are great workforce training opportunities with fee assistance from the Human Resource Council and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Lone Rock Adult Education Coordinator Julie Bachman said Lone Rock will be hosting a limited adult education program with COVID restrictions in place. Their aerobic classes will be taught via Zoom, and for any class taught at the school participants will have to be social-distanced and wear a mask. All classrooms will be cleaned using an electrostatic fogger after each class is finished.
“Unfortunately, at this time, there are only eight, possibly nine classes that will be posted in the paper the last week in December, this is because of the lack of interest in teaching, which is a direct result of COVID. We usually have between 35-40 class options,” Bachman said.
The Lone Rock Adult Ed program will begin Monday, Jan.18, and run through Friday, April 9. Register at lonerockschool.org, by phone at 406-777-3314 x 210, or by mail at 1112 Three Mile Creek Rd., Stevensville, 59870.
“I think it is very important for everyone to engage in outside activities because people need to be around other people, and they need to be active,” Bachman said. “However, with the spike in COVID numbers, our program has already been affected by the low interest in instructors, so we will have to see what happens as we move forward.”
The Victor Adult Education Coordinator is Business Manager Shelley O'Leary. Victor is currently conducting Adult Education classes with the same COVID precautions as the school, hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing.
Superintendent Lance Pearson said that after thoughtful consideration, the Victor School Board decided to also allow Adult Ed volleyball, basketball and many of their typical course offerings.
“We did have a small outbreak of [COVID] cases in Adult Ed Women's Basketball, but the utilization of quick notifications and contact tracing allowed us to contain the outbreak,” Pearson said.
Darby Adult Ed Coordinator is Dawn Ringer and Darby will only be offering classes that have a digital format or can be done outdoors.
Stevensville Superintendent Bob Moore said their district is still trying to determine Adult Education programming at this time.